Admiring the Lifestyle

My sister and I returned from a fabulous journey to Spain’s Andalucia region last week. The primary reason for our visit was to view an exhibit at the contemporary art museum in Malaga devoted to the life and work of our father’s Uncle Frank, who spent the latter half of his life and career in the village of Torremolinos with his wife, my grandfather’s step-sister Pauline.

In our childhood, my sister and I were regaled by stories of Uncle Frank and his larger-than-life personality. Although we unfortunately never met him before his tragic death in 1990, we grew up understanding the sizeable impact Uncle Frank had on my dad and his brother Alan when they were kids. We were not aware of his influence as an artist until more recently, however.

The exhibit was spectacular. The curator and museum staff were there to welcome us with open arms. They were generous with their time and genuinely interested in our family stories about their subject. We felt as if we were meeting new friends, and I’m certain we’ll stay in touch.

Throughout our visit in Malaga and Torremolinos, my sister and I were amazed by the lively community spirit evident everywhere we turned. Granted the weather was spectacular, but the cafes and the streets were filled with people talking, eating and enjoying life together. Not one person was glued to their phone because everyone was too absorbed in the real life happening in the public spaces around them.

I hope that when the snow thaws here in Boston this spring, we will see people out enjoying life again as heartily as they were this winter in Southern Spain.